“Mac! Wait.” Sarah’s voice was edged in panic.
Mac paused. “What?”
“The drone just came on line. I don’t know how long it’s been airborne, but it signaled its location.”
“And where is it?”
“Let’s just say if you’re right, Mac, you have only a few minutes to rescue Lexie.”
“Can’t you stop it?”
“Have you heard of GPS spoofing?”
He shook his head, the adrenaline pumping through his veins made him impatient enough to jump out of his own skin. “Do I need to know about it now, Sarah?”
“Only that I’ve never done it before. I have to create a false GPS signal that will trick the drone’s GPS receiver into thinking nothing is off. If I can do that, I’ll be able to direct the drone on a new navigational course.”
“And what are the odds you can do that?”
“Next to none without Ryan’s tech team finding out and working against me. Get her out of there, Mac.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
As dreams go, this one sucked. And since when did dreams come with the stench of burning rubber, blood, and pain.
Lexie tried to lift her hand so she could press it against a stabbing ache on her right cheek. Crap, that hurts. A groan escaped from her throat just as full consciousness hit. Everything rushed back at once: Mac’s eyes closed, his head tilted to the side as blood streamed down his face. Fear crushed down on her heart and she sucked in a hard breath. Dear God, let Mac be alive.
“That’s it, Lexie. Now open your eyes.”
Ryan, the bastard.
She tried to talk but couldn’t get her mouth to move. Something thick pressed her lips tight against each other. Her eyes flew open and she came face to face with Senator Ramirez. A man she didn’t recognize stood at his side. Nothing else registered except the pain in her cheek and her throbbing shoulder.
“There you are. I didn’t think I slugged you that hard. You dropped like a rag doll.”
Ryan’s voice came from the public address system. The creep didn’t even have the balls to stand before her. Instead, he hid like a filthy rat in his hole.
Lexie looked down at her hands and fear sharpened her focus. Her arms and legs were pinned down with several wraps of duct tape. The bastard had even circled her waist with tape, shoving her spine against the hard slats of the wooden chair. The senator was tied to his chair in a similar fashion.
She scanned her surroundings. It had been years since she had toured the Senate Chamber. They both sat in the middle aisle in front of each other, Lexie facing the dais podium while Ramirez looked toward the back of the chamber. Several men with assault rifles roamed the floor, their postures alert and ready for attack. Between her and the senator was a large camera connected to a free standing tripod. Two men lay, either dead or unconscious, next to it. Her stomach flipped over. Ryan really did plan to use her to force a confession from the senator.
She jerked on her arms and feet, but she was locked so securely, she couldn’t move an inch.
“You’re struggling for nothing, dear Lexie, and making this harder on yourself.”
When she attempted to speak, only a muffled sound came from her mouth.
“Remove the tape.”
Lexie searched the chamber, trying to locate Ryan as the man closest to her picked at a corner of the tape. His hands smelled of garlic and machine oil. The scent caused the nausea in her stomach to churn up into her throat. He peeled back enough to get his fingers on it and gave it a quick pull. It felt as if half her skin went with the tape.
“You sick bastard. If you hurt Mac, I’m going to kill you with my bare hands.”
“I don’t think so.”
Lexie never wanted to hurt anyone more than she did Ryan. “Let me go.”
“No.”
The man began to replace the tape and Lexie twisted her head.
“Where the hell are you?”
“Where I have always been. Watching. We all have to do our part to keep our country safe. It’s now your turn.”
“That’s a noble speech from a man who doesn’t have a honorable bone in his body. You’re a disgrace to the men you served with.”
The man again tried to cover her mouth and she made the same evasive move. “You’re just a chickenshit, with balls the size of peanuts. What do you hope to gain? This―whatever the fuck this is―isn’t how you get what you want.”
“Lexie, stop.”
She turned toward the senator. She still refused to think of him as her father, even though deep concern edged in his features.
“Just relax,” the senator pleaded.
“Don’t you dare try to tell me what to do. You have no right.” How she wished his mouth was tape as well, but how could he give Ryan the confession with tape across his mouth.
“I know.” Ramirez’s eyes filled with tears.
If anything, his tears only made her angrier. The signs of another major panic attack were only moments away. She couldn’t break here, not in front of the bastard who helped give her life. As for Ryan, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her weakness.
“Lexie, remember the mantra I taught you at the ranch house? Use it.”
“Fuck off.”
“Lexie, please!” Ramirez’s voice came out in a hoarse whisper and his eyes darted to the men beside her.
A man she wasn’t aware of came from behind and placed both his hands on either side of her head. She tried to yank free, but he just tightened his hold. The steroid-induced goon in front of her pulled off a wide band of duct tape and pressed it against her lips.
She tensed her muscles and allowed the shiver to slice through her.
Mac, where are you?
Lexie had to find her calm and fast, but closing her eyes was out of the question. Instead, she located a point on the balcony over the dais and focused everything on Mac, his strength, his integrity, even his sexy-as-hell body. He was alive because her heart would know it if he weren’t. He had asked her to trust him more times than she could remember. This was put-up-or-shut-up time. She trusted that stubborn, opinionated, warmhearted agent-in-charge. He would get her out of here, and when he did, she wasn’t ever going to let him go.
The thought rocked her at her core. Then another thought broke through and her heart rate slowed and her breathing relaxed.
Mac knew about the Capitol.
“Good, Lexie. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. I don’t have time to talk you through a panic attack.”
Then shut the hell up.
Lexie twisted her head, trying to locate Ryan. Ramirez cleared his throat and Lexie faced him instead. For the first time, she noticed the cuts and bruises on his face, neck, and hands. She searched his eyes and couldn’t miss the pain.
“There’s blood … are you okay?”
Lexie glanced down at her clothing. She didn’t even feel the wound on her right arm, but it bled through her blouse sleeve. She’d always heard that adrenaline blocked pain. She didn’t look forward to the moment it drained from her body.
“Lexie?”
Since she couldn’t speak, she nodded her head.
“I’m just so very sorry …”
Please don’t be polite to me. Lexie bit down on her jaw and pushed back the tears.
“Okay, before you two get chummy, let me tell you the rules of our interview.”
A man approached Lexie holding what at first looked like a strait jacket. He unfolded it and placed it over Lexie’s chest. He then took the two long straps on either side of the vest and wrapped them around the back of her chair. He pulled the top two tight, binding the vest to her chest and tied a knot just above her shoulder blades. He knotted the lower straps at her waist. Pulling the straps back around to the front, he again knotted them, one over her breast and the other at her hip. It was so tight, she had trouble expanding her lungs.
“What the hell is this?” Ramirez yelled. “She had nothing to do with me.”
Lexie’s attention was so focused on what the man was doing, she hadn’t notice the vest. One glance down at her chest and any calm she had established moments ago flew out the window.
Two rows of four pockets filled with some type of plastic were sewn down each side of the vest. Wires connected each of the pockets across the middle and attached to a smartphone.
“Get that off her now!” Ramirez struggled with his bindings.
The men around them took several steps back, and the others moved to guard the exits.
“That’s all up to you, Senator Ramirez. The vest will only come off if the cell phone rings. You control that.”
“What are you talking about?” He too scanned the chamber, trying to locate Ryan’s position.
“The group of men with you, as well as myself, have pledged our lives to protect this country. You are not only a disgrace to the office you hold, but a threat to our way of life. That ends today.”
Ramirez shot a look toward Lexie. “If you have a problem with me, then let her go. You have me.”
Ryan let out a laugh. Lexie could almost see the smirk that undoubtedly crossed his face.
“Now, what fun would that be? Your daughter is incentive to keep you honest. That phone attached to the vest has a nine-digit number. We’re going live in a couple of minutes, the feed being broadcast to every new station in Austin. This can be over in a few minutes or you and your daughter can share eternity together.”
Ramirez choked down a sob. “What do you want from me? Let Lexie go and I’ll give you anything.”
Lexie was powerless to keep the tears from falling this time. She closed her eyes, focused on Mac’s face and repeated over again I love him. The words gave her power.
“That’s the easy way out, Senator, and I’m not in the mood to make this easy. So, I’ll ask a question, and if I don’t like your answer, I’ll dial a number. Understand?”
“You fucking bastard. You’ll not get away with this.”
“Like I said, we are prepared to die today, but not without taking you to hell with us.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Streams of sweat rolled down his back the closer Mac got to the door of the Capitol building. He kept his pace even, using the cane he held in his right hand to control his rhythm.
Mick Ryan’s tech guru had to be watching everything. The fact Ryan wasn’t in the Senate Chamber proved he wasn’t a normal lunatic looking for his ten minutes of fame. He behaved like an officer on a mission, sending his infantry into battle ahead of him so he could continue to command from a protected position.
“Mac, slow your pace. I need you to sit on the last bench before you reach the entrance.”
Jason’s voice came over the hearing aid in Mac’s ear. The tension was hard not to miss.
I don’t have time to sit. He never even glanced at the bench in question.
“Damn it, Mac. Do it. The tech team has new information. They have sent it to your phone.”
Keeping in character of an elderly man out for a visit of the Capitol, Mac slowly moved toward the bench. He eased down and pulled out his phone. As he waited for the photo to load, he scanned the few pedestrians roaming the grounds. When his phone sounded, he glanced down at the image, and the phone slipped from his hand, hitting the walkway. Lexie sat facing her father with a fucking bomb vest attached to her chest. He leaned over and picked up his phone, whispering, “Get the bomb squad …”
“They’re en route. Just a couple of minutes.”
Doubt, dread like he had never known, overwhelmed his senses.
“I know what’s going through your head, bro. You can do this. Take your time moving into the building. I’ll let you know if Ryan dials any numbers. In the meantime, we’ll try to lock onto the GPS of that cell phone and block it.” Jason paused. “The team has moved into place, and SWAT is working through the buildings that have a view of the chamber. Can’t believe we’re up against another fucking sniper. Your only concern is Lexie. Focus on her.”
Mac shut off his phone and placed it inside his coat pocket. He stood, slouching his shoulders and spine. He leaned his weight on the cane and slowly worked his way toward the entrance.
The moment he stepped into the cool ground floor, he couldn’t help glancing up at the rotunda as he banked down the urge to sprint up the stairs into the Senate Chamber. He eased into the rear of a tour in progress and made his way up the stairs. Once on the second floor, he circled around the gallery, paying attention to the portraits of governors that hung on the wall, as well as other artwork. He peered over the banister and scanned the crowd.
He moved away from the group and turned his face down into his sport coat as he studied a painting. “I don’t see any signs of Ryan or his men. If they are here, they have blended into the woodwork.”
“You’re not exactly sporting the FBI look yourself, bro. Give it another glance before you head toward the chamber. The visitors are light today, but we still have potential civilian casualties and hostages.”
Mac knew the stakes. The Senate Chamber was blocked off, and that should help corral the visitors to the left side of the building.
“Give me a rundown of what’s behind the door.”
“You have a man at each entrance. Next to Lexie, there are two other men, one working the camera. Lexie and Ramirez were both tied to the chair, but one of Ryan’s goons just cut Ramirez loose. Ryan must not want the voters to see their senator tied up like a fucking turkey. Damn brave woman, your Lexie.”
That was the only thing keeping Mac going. Then Jason’s voice hitched.
“Mac, the interview just went live. Forget what I said. Get close. Ryan dialed the first digit.”
• • •
The camera light went dark and silence filled the room. The cameraman stepped away from the tripod. Lexie couldn’t prevent the chill that raced down her spine as the fourth digit of the cell phone number appeared on the screen.
Okay, Mac, anytime now would be great.
She wanted to blame Ramirez, cuss him out, break something over his big head, but she didn’t believe he was lying to Ryan.
“Damn it, I answered your question,” Ramirez roared.
It never occurred to her what would happen if the senator told the truth and Ryan didn’t believe him. With each ticking second, she was losing ground and had no idea how she would live through this nightmare.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear,” Ryan’s low, menacing voice came out loud and clear over the PA. “I expect completely truthful answers, not this crap you’re feeding me.”
“It’s not crap. Okay, I have lied before.” His stare bored into Lexie. “I kept Lexie’s true identity a secret from my family, the voters―”
She let loose an angry groan from the back of her throat. I’m not your daughter. What the hell did she do in this life to deserve this? If he came up with an excuse why he deserted her, left her in the hands of her crazy-ass mother, she was going to puke all over herself. Again she squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the truth, and focused on Mac’s face in her mind’s eye.
Do something, Mac. Do it now.
“Even your daughter can’t stand listening to your lies.”
“I’m not lying. I gave up my own child for this seat. Do you think I would dishonor her and my position by getting into bed with the cartel? I vowed to uphold the duties and responsibilities of this office, and I have never wavered from it. I don’t know the man in the photo, nor have I ever had dealings with his associates.” He paused and took in a deep breath. “Lexie, please look at me.”
No, hell, no!
“Had I known what your home life was really like, I would have taken you from her. She made it look like everything was well in your world. You were involved in activities, and your grades were great. I didn’t see any abuse …”
Lexie opened her eyes and gave the senator her meanest glare as she shook her head. How could anyone be so blind? And to think that her very life and Gabriel’s
happiness depended on this spineless jerk. Nausea churned in her stomach and tears spilled over onto her cheeks. She tried to push the fear back like she had done several times in the last several days, but she didn’t have the strength.
“Don’t cry, please don’t cry.” Ramirez twisted his neck so he could address one of the men. “Whoever you are, I don’t care. I only care about getting my daughter out of here. Take that damn vest off her and I will give you anything―money, a confession … it doesn’t matter. Write out what you want me to say, and I’ll say it. Just please let Lexie go.”
“Senator Ramirez, I don’t think she believes this act any more than I do. We’re on a timetable here. The camera goes back on in ten seconds. I suggest you learn quickly how to tell the truth. You have only five digits left.”
• • •
Mac pressed his back to the closed Senate Chamber doors. Time was up. “Any luck blocking that cell phone?”
“We’ve almost got it, Mac. Can you give us a couple of minutes?” Sarah asked through his earpiece.
“The drone?”
“Still working that, too. It’s five minutes out.”
His chest tightened until he couldn’t breathe. “We need to get everyone out …”
“I just gave a kid a $100 to pull the fire alarm,” Jason interrupted. “If Ryan is keeping tabs, hopefully, he won’t be alarmed when a teenager does something stupid. Don’t worry about anything but Lexie.”
“I’m going in.” Mac wedged open the door, placed his cane into the threshold, gave a hard shoulder shove, and entered the room. He turned his back away from the men and quietly clicked it shut.
“Sir, you can’t be in here.”
The man tried to hide his weapon behind his leg. Mac tipped his fedora down over his eyes and lowered his voice. “Just ignore me, young man. I won’t be a minute.” He turned and stared at the dais as if it were the sculpture of David. “Isn’t this something?” he said, taking a couple of steps into the chamber. “I’ve wanted to visit the Senate Chamber for years. My son’s family gave me this trip.” He planted a sheepish look on his face and glanced at the senator. Three men surrounded Lexie, hiding her from his view.
Texas Temptation Page 128
